Envelop-addressing attachment for type-writers.



G. M. FREEMAN.

BNVELOP ADDRESSING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.1'7, 1910.

1,085,900, Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (TO-,WASHINGTON, D. c.

G. M. FREEMAN. ENVELOP ADDRESSING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17, 1910.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

a 8HEETS-SEEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. b?

G. M. FREEMAN.

ENVBLOP ADDRESSING ATTACHMENT FOR-TYPEWRITERS.

APP'L IGATION FILED MAR-17, 1910.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

GEORGE M. FREEMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOP-ADDRESSING- ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Application filed March 17, 1910. Serial No. 549,916.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. FREEMAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, andState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inEnvelop-Addressing Attachments for Type-VVriters, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanylng drawing, is aspecification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide an envelop addressingattachment for typewriters by means of which the envelops may beproperly positioned on the cylindrical platen for being addressedwithout the necessity of feeding them in under the platen by turning thelatter in the manner in which paper is usually fed into a typewritingmachine.

The advantages of the construction are that the envelops may be placedin position more rapidly than is possible when they have to be fed inaround the platen, and every envelop may be brought to exactly the sameposition so that the addresses will always be at a uniform distance fromthe lower edge of the envelop.

The attachment can be equally well used in positioning cards or anyother small piece of paper.

My invention is capable of use with any typewriter, but is of particularadvantage in connection with so-called visible typewriters which arearranged so that the place where the impression is made is alwaysvisible to the operator.

I will first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point outthe novel features thereof in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewextending from front to rear through the carriage of a visibletypewriter showing my improved attachment; Fig. 2 is a similar Viewthrough the carriage showing the envelop inserted into the positioningdevice with the paper fingers elevated; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing the paper fingers in engagement with the envelop; Fig. i is adiagrammatic perspective view showing the relation of my improvedenvelop-positioning device to the platen; Fig. 5 is a front view of thepositioning device removed with an envelop therein; Fig. 6 is a detailof one end of the rod supporting the paper fingers; F g. 7 is a View onthe line ww Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view through thecentral part of the envelop-positioning device.

As stated above my attachment is applicable to any visible typewriter,and in the drawings 3 designates the cylindrical platen of anywell-known type of visible typewriter which is supported in usual mannerupon the carriage, parts of which are shown at a, and which is slidablymounted in usual way upon the rods or guides 5 of the typewriter frame.The carriage has associated therewith the usual paper rest or table 6 onwhich the paper is supported as it is fed into the machine, and thepaper fingers 7 which hold the paper against the cylinder. The carriagealso has mounted therein the rod 8 situated below the platen on whichare loosely mounted one or more arms 9 that carry at their ends a rod 10on which are mounted the usual front feed rolls 11, there being threesuch rolls. The rod 8 also has loosely mounted thereon otherrearwardly-extending arms 12 that support at their ends another rod 13on which are loosely mounted the rear feed rolls 14:.

15 is the usual guide plate carried by the arms 9 and which serves toguide the paper as it is fed into position.

The parts thus far described may have any suitable or usual constructionand as they form no part of my present invention I have not deemed itnecessary to completely illustrate them herein.

With the ordinary typewriting machines of this nature, the only way inwhich an envelop, card or piece of paper can be brought into positionfor typing thereon is by placing it on the feed table 6 and then turningthe platen 3 to feed it into position. This, of course, consumesconsiderable time and also necessitates more or less manipulation eitherof the platen or of the envelop to properly position the envelop forreceiving the address.

My improvement is of such a nature that the envelop can be placed inposition by merely inserting it into place in front of the platen andwithout the necessity of feeding it in under the platen, and further, itwilloperate to invariably position the envelop correctly to receive theaddress.

lVhile there are various forms which my improved attachment can assume,.that herein shown is in the form of a pocket open at the top andsituated beneath the platen so that the lower edge of the envelop can beinserted down between the platen and the front guide roll directly intothe pocket where it will be correctly positioned for receiving theaddress.

In the embodiment herein shown the envelop-positioning device is formedfrom a piece of sheet metal 16 which extends longit-udinally of theplaten and is bent into substantially Ushape in cross section to formthe two sides 17, 18 between which the lower edge of the envelop 19 maybe received. This pocket is made with the open throat 2O situatedslightly in the rear of and directly below the front feed roll so thatwhen these feed rolls are separated from the platen, as shown in Fig. 2,the envelop may he slipped between the rolls and the platen directlyinto the pocket. The rear side 18 of the pocket preferably extendsupwardly to a point where the upper edge is in close proximity to theplaten so that the upper portion 21 of this side acts as a guard toguide the envelop down into the pocket. The envelop positioning devicethus made may [be secured in position in a variety of ways withoutdeparting from the invention. I have herein shown it as provided withtwo or more arms 22 which extend rearwardly from the side 18 of thepocket and are secured to the rod or bar 8. I have also shown the side18 as having a portion 23 struck up therefrom through which struckupportion the screw 2% passes that is used to hold the usual guide finger25 to the car riage. In this way the envelop-positioning pocket will befirmly held in position without interfering with any of the other partsof the mechanism. The manner of supporting the pocket may be changed,however, without departing from the invention. The front guide rolls 11usually lie against the platen 3, and in order to permit an envelop tobe inserted into the pocket, it is necessary to remove the rolls somedistance from the platen. I accomplish this herein by a specialconstruction of the usual paper release mechanism. The arms 9 thatsupport the front feed rolls have integral therewith arms 26 which bearagainst a cam shaft 27 that is journaled in the carriage and is operatedin. any suitable way. This shaft is provided with the fiat portions 38which when the parts are in normal position stand parallel with the arms26. By turning the cam shaft 27. the arms 2t) are acted on to throw thefeed rolls 11 into the position shown in Fig. 2. The flattened portionsof the cam shaft are of such a shape that when the shaft is turned thefeed rolls will be given the desired movement.

In order to place an envelop in the machine, it is simply necessary tothrow the paper fingers 7 backwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, and to turnthe cam shaft 27 to throw the feed rolls into the position shown in Fig.2 when the envelop may be inserted into the pocket. The cam shaft 27 maythen be restored to its initial position, thus permitting the feed rollsto force the envelop against the platen, as shown in Fig. 3, and ifdesired the paper fingers may be brought against the envelop to holdthe. up per edge thereof in position.

The pocket is made adjustable to accommodate envelops of differentsizes, and while this can be accomplished in a variety of ways, I haveherein provided it with a movable bottom so that the portion on whichthe envelops rest may be adjusted to different elevations. This movablebottom is in the form of a bar 28 which is received between the sides ofthe pocket and is capable of adjustment vertically therein. The bar islonger than the pocket and projects beyond the same at each end, asshown in Fig. 4, thus affording a means by which it may be adjusted. Thesides of the pocket are herein shown as indented at 29 to formpositioning projections that are adapted to engage in recesses formed inthe bar 28 for positioning the latter at different points.

Any other suitable way of making the pocket adjustable may be employed,however, without departing from the invention.

The paper fingers 7 are carried by arms 30 as usual and these arms aremounted on a finger-sustaining rod 31 which extends from one end to theother of the carriage. The arms 30 are capable of turning rel ative tothe rod and are frictionally held in adjusted position in some suitableor usual way which as herein shown is by means of a spring pressed pinor member 32 which is carried by the arm and is adapted to engage in agroove 33 formed in the rod 81. This construction permits the paperfingers to move longitudinally of the rod but yieldingly holds them intheir operative position, as shown in Fig. 3, while permitting them tobe swung into inoperative position.

In some typewriters the rod 31 is fixed in the frame, in which case eachpaper finger must be moved separately from its operative to itsinoperative position. In my improve ment I sustain the rod 31 so that itcan be turned in the frame, and this has the advantage that by turningthe rod both paper fingers will be simultaneously moved from oneposition to the other. As shown herein, this rod 31 is journaled in theside pieces 34 of the carriage, and has extending radiall from one endthereof a pin which is adapted to be received in either one of tworecesses 36, 37 formed in a block 38 that is secured to the inside ofthe plate 39. A spring 40 surrounds the rod 31, one end of which springis secured to the cheek piece 34 and the other end of which is securedto the pin 35. This spring tends both to maintain the rod in theposition shown in Fig. 6, that is, with the paper fingers in operativeposition, and to force the rod longitudinally to keep the pin 35 againstthe block 38. When the rod 31 is turned to throw the paper fingers intoinoperative position, the pin 35 is swung into the recess 37 and thefriction of the pin in the recess will hold the rod in this position. Aslight pressure on either paper finger, however, will release the pinfrom the recess 37 when the spring 40 will turn the rod into theposition with the pin in the recess 36. The block 38 is provided withtwo stop shoulders 41, 42 which limit the swinging movement of the rodin either direction. As stated above, my invention is equally applicablefor positioning cards or small pieces of paper, and hence wherever Ihave used the term envelop, I intend it to cover broadly envelops, cardsor other small pieces of paper, and the term envelop-positioning deviceis also intended to include a device capable of positioning cards, smallpieces of paper, etc.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a typewriter, the combination with arevoluble platen and front and rear feed rolls engaging the under sidethereof, of an envelop-receiving pocket beneath the platen and situatedbetween the front and rear rolls, said pocket having an adjustablebottom and adapted to receive the edge of the envelop inserted betweenthe front feed rolls and the platen thereby to position the envelop.

2. In a typewriter, the combination with a revoluble platen, of frontand rear feed rolls engaging the under side thereof, anenvelop-receiving pocket situated beneath said feed rolls and betweenthe front and rear rolls, said pocket having sides and a bottomadjustable relative to the sides and adapted to receive the edges of anenvelop thereby to position the latter when it is inserted between thefront feed rolls and the platen.

3. In a typewriter, the combination with a revoluble platen and frontand rear feed rolls engaging the under side thereof, of anenvelop-receiving pocket beneath the platen and to the rear of the frontfeed rolls, said pocket having its rear side extending above the frontside thereof and into close proximity to the platen thereby to act as adefleet-or to deflect the edge of an envelop thereinto when said envelopis inserted backwardly.

4. In a typewriter, the combination with and having front and rear sidesand a bottom adjustable vertically relative to the sides, the upper edgeof the rear side being bent backwardly to form a deflecting surfaceadaptedto guide the entering edge of an envelop into the pocket.

5. In a typewriter, the combination with a revoluble platen and frontand rear feed rolls engaging the under side thereof, of anenvelop-receiving pocket beneath the platen and to the rear of the frontfeed rolls, said pocket having sides, the rear one of which extendsabove the front and into close proximity to the platen, and a bottombetween the sides and adjustable relative thereto to vary the depth ofthe pocket.

6. In a typewriter, the combination with a revoluble platen, of frontand rear feed rolls engaging the under side thereof, anenvelop-receiving pocket situated beneath the platen and to the rear ofthe front feed rolls and having front and rear sides and a bet tomadjustable vertically relative to the sides, the upper edge of the rearside being bent backwardly to form a deflecting surface adapted to guidethe entering edge of an envelop into the pocket, and means to retractthe front feed rolls to permit the insert-ion of an envelop into saidpocket.

7 In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and a platen thereon,of a rod mounted on the carriage, a paper finger sustained by the rod, apin extending laterally from said rod, a cheek piece provided with agroove to receive said pin, and means yieldingly holding the pin againstthe cheek piece whereby the rod may be turned and will be yieldinglylocked in adjusted position.

8. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and a platenthereon, of a rod journaled in the carriage, paper fingers carried bythe rod and capable of turning thereon, a pin extending laterally fromthe rod at one end, a cheek piece provided with two notches adapted toreceive said pin, and a spring tending to move the rod longitudinally tohold the pin yieldingly in either one of the notches in the cheek piece.

9. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and a platen, of arod mounted on the carriage, two paper fingers sustained by said rod,means whereby either finger may be moved relative to the rod, a pinextending laterally from the rod at one end, a cheek piece provided withtwo notches adapted to receive said pin, and means yieldingly holdingthe pin against the cheek piece whereby the rod will be yieldingly heldin either of two positions.

10. In a typewriter, the combination with a carriage and a cylindricalplaten thereon, of a rod journaled in the carriage, a plurality of paperlingers sustained by the rod and all of which are capable of turningthereabout a pin extending laterally from the rod, a spring acting onthe rod and tending at all times to turn it about its axis in onedirection and also to move it longitudinally and means held infrictional engagement 10 with said pin by said spring for frictionallyholding the rod in a position with the paper fingers raised.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscrlbing witnesses.

LOUIS G. SMITH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

